The Peripheral

Nicknamed “Easy Ice” for her gaming skills, Flynne Fisher is the protagonist of the novel. Flynne is independent-minded and forceful in her own way but always seems to be on the outside of what she is involved with. Burton, Lowbeer, and Griff all are the novel’s power figures as they make deals and do not often reveal to Flynne what these deals include. Flynne is the novel’s most consistent moral figure. Prior to the turn of events in her life, her primary concern is caring for her ailing mother, Ella. While determined to help catch Aelita West’s killer, Flynne also adamantly opposes the use of the chemical agent known as “party time,” which demonstrates her integrity.

Netherton takes a liking to Flynne, particularly because she represents something unavailable to him. The narrator says that it is Flynne’s “archaic self-determination” that appeals to Netherton: her insistence on being who she wants to be. While the plot generally depends on Flynne being gamed by external forces, she does not participate in anything completely against her will. Instead, she chooses to participate on her own terms, a stark distinguishing feature compared to most of the novel’s other characters.